Amazon’s Tony Hoggett discusses 2022 in-store and rapid delivery innovations

As he approaches completion of his first year working on Amazon’s physical stores, grocery, and specialty fulfilment businesses, Tony Hoggett has taken to LinkedIn to reflect on the e-commerce giant’s accomplishments in this space.

Hoggett departed Tesco to join Amazon in January of this year, leading the teams responsible for Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go, Amazon Style, Whole Foods Market, and the firm’s ultrafast delivery services.

In a LInkedIn post, he said: “One of the things that excited me most about joining Amazon is the company’s customer obsessed mindset. When you start with the customer and work backward, every decision, every new idea, every invention has a purpose – to make the customer experience better.”

He added: “This year, the team innovated on behalf of customers to introduce new shopping experiences like Amazon Style and a suburban format Amazon Go store…Both store formats expanded to multiple locations and new regions.”

“We also brought Just Walk Out technology to two Whole Food Market stores, giving customers the choice to skip the register for a faster, more convenient shopping experience.”

“We expanded Amazon One to more of our stores, offering a fast, convenient, contactless way for customers to use their palm to enter, identify, and pay.”

“And for the first time, Amazon Dash Cart became available for use at Whole Foods Market stores. Three Whole Foods Market stores now feature the new version of the Dash Cart, which carries more groceries and goes all the way to the car for added convenience.”

This new version of Amazon Dash Cart is also expected to become available at a few additional Whole Foods Market stores and many Amazon Fresh locations in the US next year.

Hoggett added that he is inspired by Amazon’s commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040 and take steps toward more sustainable products offered online and in stores.

“Enacting initiatives that support this commitment are win-win – a win for our planet, and for our customers,” he commented.

Earlier this year, Amazon opened the first low-carbon Amazon Fresh store in Seattle, which is seeking Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute along with three Los Angeles Amazon Go locations, and the newest Same-Day Delivery site in Sacramento, CA.

This certification requires a building to achieve energy and embodied carbon reduction targets, be powered by 100% renewable energy, and offset 100% of emissions associated with construction.

Hoggett concluded: “In 2022, we opened dozens of physical stores across grocery and fashion, and expanded one day delivery to rural areas across the US.”

“But reaching more customers isn’t just about opening stores or expanding delivery coverage, it’s working together through partnerships to increase access to innovative shopping experiences and selection we know customers love.”

For example, in the US, there was collaboration with Starbucks to open the second Starbucks Pickup and Amazon Go location in New York City.

Hispanic specialty food market Cardenas and Central Valley grocer Save Mart was also available for two-hour delivery on Amazon.

In Singapore, there was a team up with online health and beauty shop Watsons, and artisanal grocer Little Farms to make their selection available for two-hour delivery on Amazon.

In Japan, meanwhile, there was an expansion of grocery selection and availability through LIFE, Valor, and SeijoIshii.

And in the EU, an expansion of existing partnerships with Tegut and U2 Supermercato to bring same-day, two-hour delivery on Amazon to new regions.